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Original poster

Plane seat drama

387 replies

itstoohotnow · 02/08/2024 12:29

Just returned from a European break, booked 4 plane tickets for DH and 2 DS (19 &16) and I, eldest DS decided too old to go away with mum and dad so stayed at home. I contacted the airline as cheap non refundable ticket but said I can use it as a spare seat between DH and I so all good.

On return flight, only 2 hours long and we have seats A (me) B (spare) C (DH) and D (DS) then a couple with a baby in E & F

Couple with baby realised we were together and pretty much demanded DS moved to seat B - I politely pointed out it wasn't a random spare seat but a booked and paid for one, now I have 2 kids so appreciate it's hard to travel with a little one and would have offered the seat but they were so bloody rude and entitled. I pointed out we had paid for 4 seats and they had only paid for 2 - so asked for a contribution towards cost £30 (by this point they are just demanding the seat because they have a child)

They got pretty rude and offensive (called me a fat b**ch) so I said no, stewardess said was up to me

Should I have given them the seat?

OP posts:
AnnieMcFanny · 02/08/2024 13:09

I wasn’t aware you could claim the seat if one of the passengers decided not to fly. It would surely be a ‘no show’ and the seat would then go back into the system to be allocated to another passenger.

Hoppinggreen · 02/08/2024 13:09

JabbaTheBeachHut · 02/08/2024 12:54

They called you a fat bitch and you're wondering if you should've given them the seat you paid for?

I would have responed that it was a good job I had an extra seat for my fat arse then wasn't it?
Its fine to politely ask, its fine to politely say no but being rude rarely gets you anywhere.
And maybe DS wanted an aisle seat? DH and DS are both over 6ft so we arrange things so they both get an aisle

user98265528790 · 02/08/2024 13:08

Might have considered it if they were polite, but not if they’re being rude. They could have easily booked their own spare seat if they wanted to.

dontlookgottalook · 02/08/2024 13:08

How did they first ask? Did they just say "move over, we have a baby" or were they more polite, then turned nasty.
Glad you didn't give them the seat, but just curious to know how the conversation started out.

CloudywMeatballs · 02/08/2024 13:07

No33 · 02/08/2024 12:54

I think its weird you were making your son sit next to other passengers and kept a free between you and your husband tbh

Why is that weird? I'm sure her son was much more comfortable in an aisle seat than he would have been in a middle seat between his parents.

Fluufer · 02/08/2024 13:07

If they had asked nicely, or been polite I probably would have offered. Absolutely not after they were rude.

ManchesterLu · 02/08/2024 13:05

Nah, you paid for the seat, you deserve the extra space it gives.

My aunt is overweight, so she paid for two seats, and someone tried to sit in her spare seat. The man was quite confrontational and sat himself down, and my aunt had to get a flight attendant.

RickyGervaislovesdogs · 02/08/2024 13:05

No. They were rude.

venusandmars · 02/08/2024 13:03

I don't know what you achieved but not letting them have the spare seat. I'd have given it up.

Eckythumpand · 02/08/2024 12:59

Absolutely not! Cheeky sods, they should have been chucked off imo, they were abusive and disruptive from what you have said. They could have paid for a seat themselves entitled twats. There's a certain type who thinks they can get anything they want with aggression glad you stood up to them, might teach them a lesson in dealing effectively with other people, however I doubt it cos they're usually thick as mince.

KreedKafer · 02/08/2024 12:57

So there were two of them plus baby, and they already had their two allocated seats next to one another? Nah, really don't see why you should give up the spare seat, that you'd paid for. They had two seats together and if they needed a third seat for the baby they could/should have booked one themselves, rather than expecting to have one that somebody else had paid for (and being really bloody rude about it). I'm sure they can hold their own baby on their laps for two hours.

No33 · 02/08/2024 12:54

I think its weird you were making your son sit next to other passengers and kept a free between you and your husband tbh

Lilysgoneshopping · 02/08/2024 12:54

Not on your nelly. They can fuck right off. They will get nowhere with anyone with an attitude like that 😬

JabbaTheBeachHut · 02/08/2024 12:54

They called you a fat bitch and you're wondering if you should've given them the seat you paid for?

lolly792 · 02/08/2024 12:51

Absolutely would not have given up my seat, so you're totally in the right there.

BUT ... 'a spare seat between DH and I' ?????!!!

It's 'between DH and me'

Im honestly not normally pedantic about grammar but this just sounds so awful that I can't let it go!

UpUpUpU · 02/08/2024 12:50

I would not have given them the seat in those circumstances!

You did the right thing op.

Userengage · 02/08/2024 12:47

You were right and they can sod off with their rudeness. Glad you kept your seat.

Zimunya · 02/08/2024 12:47

Absolutely not. You paid for the seat - it's yours. It was open to them to buy a seat for their child - they chose not to. That's not your problem. Sorry they were so rude to you - unacceptable behaviour from them.

sweeneytoddsrazor · 02/08/2024 12:46

I wouldn't if they had been rude but I probably would have offered when I saw them with a little one

Hoppinggreen · 02/08/2024 12:42

Not even if they asked nicely
That was an extra seat you paid for not a spare one

notimagain · 02/08/2024 12:42

Should I have given them the seat?

No.

Flowersandbubblegum · 02/08/2024 12:40

I don't think asking them to pay is cheeky. The seat was paid for, if you want it, pay. Tbh if it was me with the baby I'd have asked kindly and offered anyway. I actually probably wouldn't have even asked, everyone knows seats are paid for! They should have paid for 3x themselves.

I hope they didn't make the journey uncomfortable for your DS. Or you swapped with DS to move him from the firing line.

Trickedbyadoughnut · 02/08/2024 12:39

I don't think asking for money was cheeky - they were asking for something for free that you had paid for and they were also rude about it!

CloudywMeatballs · 02/08/2024 12:38

No, absolutely not. But I wouldn't have offered the seat in return for money. I would either have offered it or not.

princesspadam · 02/08/2024 12:36

I agree I wouldn't have asked for money as it's a bit cheeky
But I wouldn't have given up the seat either especially as they were so rude